The Pascagoula democrat-star., 1887-09-30
FLIRTATIONS.
BY S. b.

"Only elsht VcIoCk uO" SiO"'S
the time passesw
Aud Pauline Sedley yawneG as
she looked out over the purplihg
OF the twilight sea, where now aud
then the bright reflections OF Il star
seemed to splash into the waves.
1t was IA golden August evening,
moonless bnt radlant, with the
balmy air tulI of the tragrance OF
new made hay, mingling not un-
pleasantly with the salt breath Of
the sea, and the sky all glorious
with tue dolphin like hues OF the
dying day, aud Miss Sedley, sitting
on tue h0iel balcony in her floating
robes OF white India muslin, gir,i-
led with scarlet, and scarlet VERDE
nas in her hair, nadeau exceedingly
pretty adjunct to the scene. She
was "a brunette, with brilliant
complexion, all cream and crimson,
Jet black hair, straight aud glossy
as an Indians, and eyes whose
melting brilliance was like lhe
duSky glow of trOpic stars.
No wonder that little Ralph Mon
tarute the enthusiastic boy OF
eighteen, was madly in love with
her-uO wonder that he hung on
her slightest word as an eastern de
vOtee han.s on tue priests Oracular
nttci anceS.
"Slowly, Pauline! wnen am at
your side p he said II little repTOach-
fully.
Pauline laughed aud turned the
diamond aud opal rings carelesSly
round on her fingers.
"YOn are Ouly u child, Ralph p
she said little disdainfuIly.
81 am a year older than you,
Pauline y
Paullne Setlley reached up to tap
his flushed btardless cheek with her
an.
"a girl of seventeen is equal to a
man of Iwenty-Sevcn, any time,
Ralph You're nice little cava-
llpr, aud you dance the polka de.
lishtluily, buI you see yOu are not
tairIy out of the top aud ball phrase
yet! Now, there's Gustavus Mel
Vile, he's "a man, aud your cousin,
Harry Livingstone, 'caUGtter sans
peur, ct SGns reprOchel' + Major Law.
lug stones magnetIceyes are enough
to SET any wOman's heart in u
blaze"
She spoke absiractedly, looking
out toward the sea, aud apparently
unconscious that she bad any audi
tor but the far-Off waves and the
mantling twilight.
."Pauline n ejaeulated the boy,
passiOuately, 81 may be young in
years, but you have taught my
heart premature development. You
have no righ: TO speak to me thus,
after playing with my affections all
summerp
PAUL. G glauced up in astOnish
ment. Finished coQuptie that she
was, she had hardly expected Tins
Outb Jrst from tue most t0slgniti-
cant Of ali her victims. She had
encouraged Ralph Montacute's too
visible infatuatiOn, simply because
il amused her 10 make captive of
the pretty boy, aud uOw she was as
much taken by surprise rs would
be tue fisherman it writhing trout
should suddenly fhd voice to re-
n,onslrate when the book WIS being
twisted out of his quivering jaws
"My dear Ralph, you are talking
nonsense, she said lightly.
"NOnsense Is it nonsense to tell
YOU that | love NOu-that my heart
has passed irrevOcably into your
keeping; that liie will be desert
without yOu p
"Yes-very absurd nonsense
Go back TO school, Ralph, or col
lege, or wherever it is, aud tOrgel
me. Ny dear child, | should al
soon thiuk OF marrying little Tony
J WarWick, who has just got out o
merinO frOcks.n
Ralph MOntscute was silent
Pauline's lightly spoken words o
ridicule cut him 10 tue heart.
"Pauliue,D be said almost sternly
edo sOu tbiuk you bage treated M
hOuOrably y
Pauline yswned.
"aOuorably what a big wOrs
for the occasion. One must amusl
oue's self at q place ike this, an'
Won certainly 0nght TO understand
ihe difference between q mer'
harmless flriatioR and real, sObe
earnest. Now Ralph, do be sensl
Die, aud leave on teasing ne, that
q good boy"
Ralph turned away.